Liviu Apostol

Spatio-temporal analysis of Romania's rural population access to sanitation services in the context of EU accession

This paper analysis the disparities between Romanian Counties regarding the spatio-temporal evolution of rural population acces to sanitation services for pre-accession period (2003-2006) and the first two years since Romania is part of the EU-27 (2007-2008) highlighting positive or negative changes occurred in this period.Romanian counties were mapped and divided into five typological classes,using multivariate analysis such as hierarchical cluster analysis method.Each class has different values of rural population served by waste collection services related to the Romania average (expressed in standard deviations).Limited access to sanitation services from rural areas lead to uncontrolled waste disposal.Despite improvement of public access to sanitation services in rural areas compared to 2003 most of population still lack access to waste collection services in 2008.In this context, implementation of the acquis communautaire on municipal waste management is difficult to achieve in rural territory.

ATMOSPHERIC PATTERNS DURING THE STORMS FROM JANUARY 2014 IN BULGARIA AND ROMANIA

Abstract Synoptic conditions associated with strong winds and snowfalls on January 2014 in Bulgaria and Romania are investigated in this paper. The Romanian authorities established the orange and red codes while the Bulgarian ones the orange code. A first peak was recorded in northern and especially northeastern Bulgaria and south-eastern Romania on January 25-26 and a second one on January 29 2014. The purpose is to understand what regulates the duration and intensity of these events. For their study, NCEP-500/700/850 and SLP analyses, different model outputs and soundings as well as data from 12 weather stations have been used.

EU Acquis Compliance on Urban Waste Management. Case Study: Piatra Neamt , Romania

This paper examines the current challenges in urban waste management systems under EU regulations for a newcomer state. Piatra Neamț is among the first Romanian cities which made the transition from a traditional to a modern waste management infrastructure through ISPA funds. These changes are poor reflected in rate of recyling and treatment so far according to analysis of waste streams. The paper performs a critical review of waste management services and also assesses the vulnerability to illegal dumping. Inappropriate sites of waste management facilities contribute to environmental pollution and urban landscape degradation. Comparative analysis between pre-accession period vs. current situation highlights one the one hand the improvements in this sector and on the other hand the difficulties to comply EU targets.

Three Years of Observations on Global Solar Radiation at Mădârjac Weather Station (270 m) - Central Moldavian Plateau

Abstract This study is based on 3 years of hourly observations of global solar radiation (2014-2016), at a new weather station installed in the region of Central Moldavian Plateau, at Mădârjac (47.05°N, 27.25°E, 270 m). The main characteristics of annual, monthly and daily regime of global radiation were emphasized using for comparison similar data from Iașioficial weather station. Smaller annual amount of global solar radiation than those observed in previous studies were observed, reaching 4734 MJ/m2 in Iași and 4454 MJ/m2 in Mădârjac. An altidudinal gradient of global solar radiation close to 140 MJ/m2 was identified for the hilly region of Moldova. Despite the overall higher values in Iași, 30% of days indicates higher values of this parameter at Mădârjac weather station. These results can be used for the evaluation of the photo-voltaic potential in the region, but also to understand the altitudinal differences of solar radiation in the hilly region in Moldavia, since the only long-range actinometric stations from this part of Romania, Iași and Galați, are located at low altitudes.

A Ten Years Hail Climatology Based on ESWD Hail Reports in Romania, 2007-2016

The present work analyse dstatistically representative number of severe convective events reported for ESWD (European Severe Weather Database) which caused hail in Romania during 2007-2016. We used only data from QC1 (report confirmed) level of credibility. QC1 are reports confirmed by reliable sources by ESSL (European Severe Storm Laboratory) Quality Control Division and National Meteorological Institutes. The development of social media and an increasing number of people interested in severe weather in the recent years significantly raised the number of reports, too (often accompanied by a photograph of the event). This database does not include all of the hail reports, but it is the best existing source for the Romanian territory. For the 2007-2016 period, 470 events with QC1 credibility were reported for ESWD. A spatial-temporal analysis of ESWD reports has been carried out. During the ten years, a high density of reporting has been observed in north-east, south-east and north-western Romania.. This is a consequence of the number of volunteers reporting extreme weather events and local climatic conditions. A greater number of hail days can be noted in 2008, 2009 and 2010, a decline in 2011 and 2012, and during 2013-2016, 10 to 12 of hail days per year were actually recorded. Key-words: Hailstorm, ESWD, Hail reports density, Romania.

Precursor Weather Conditions for Hail-Event Forecasting in the Moldavia

The present work analysed a statistically representative number of severe convective events which caused hail and material damage during 1990-2015. For these episodes heights of 0 o C, -6 o C, -10 o C and -20 o C isotherms were analyzed. In the layers between these four isotherms, the formation and growth of hailstones occur. The height of these isotherms in the period preceding hail is essential in weather forecast of this phenomenon. Lifted index values recorded before hail events are also correlated with height isotherms. The altitudinal differences between the height of -6 o C and -20 o C isotherm and freezing level which represents intervals of initiation and formation of hail are identified. Not at last the values of the meteorological indices used to forecast the potential formation and hail falling in extracarpathian Moldavia are presented in details.

Old Romanian Meteorological Terms

Abstract This paper aims to present the evolution of the meteorological terminology, from the 17th century Grigore Ureche’s chronicle and bishop Amfilohie Hotiniuls manuscript on Physics (Moldavia, late 18th Century) to the mid 19th century writings of Teodor Stamati (Moldova) and Julius Barasch (Wallachia), also considering pop science literature, newspapers, such as “Albina Românească” and weather superstitions published in various calendars, and disputed by intelectuals like Mihail Kogălniceanu.

The Thermal Regime of Air in the Rarău Massif

Abstract The air temperature variability and locally global warming impact, in the North Eastern Carpathians, have analyzed, namely in the high area of the Massif Rarău, as the environmental implications of these changes. Also taking into account the touristic potential of this area, some aspects of thermal regime change have been highlighted, with implications for tourism. For this study the string climate data have been used from the meteorological station Rarău, currently belonging to the Faculty of Geography and Geology, University Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The yearly average of air temperature at the meteorological station Rarău was 2.5°C over the period 1958-2015. The annual variations were from -1.3°C in comparition with the annual average in 1980 to +1.7°C in 2015. The lowest monthly average was in January, 6.7°C, the highest in July, 11.8°C and annual average amplitude was 18.5°C.

Thermal Hazards in Cold Semester of the Year in the Mountain Area of Moldova River (Sector Between Vama and the Springs of Moldova River)

Abstract During the cold semester , most representative of climate risks are the thermal ones, specifically, on the base of a depression area, apprearance of thermal inversions. Amid this feature mentioned, the coldest temperatures were recorded in the lowlands,in the hearths depression,as the municipe Câmpulung Moldovenesc, here being registered and the lowest temperature from the area studied,-31.7°C. All these thermal inversions that occur in transitional periods (spring and autumn) are producing the early frosts,late respectively, these being the most damaging for local agriculture. This stability of the atmosphere, in conjunction with cold air, which is garrisoned on the’s hearth depression, leads to atmospheric pollution with pollutants, resulting from transport and heating, because we are talking about an area in woodland, and consequently, wood is the main source of heating, especially in outlying areas of the city Câmpulung Moldovenesc,where court houses predominate, with their own heating systems.

Elements of Climate Evolution in yhe Area Between Prut and Dniester Rivers. Landscape and Pedogenetic Implications

Abstract Component part of the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic space, the interfluve area between Prut and Dniester is subject to the regional process of climate evolution and change. In what regards the concept of human-influenced pedogenesis, the role of the biological factor is significantly reduced. As a consequence the direction and intensity of the elementary landscape and pedogenetic processes are determined by the relations between climate and the geomorphological factor. In the conditions of a relative stability of the geomorphological factor, the determining role is held by climate. To this is added soil vulnerability to the implications of climate changes, determined by the degree of soil physical degradation but also by a series of intrinsic and external (drainage) factors. This implies the idea of the control and management of the landscape and pedogenetic implications of climate changes by improving soil physical characteristics.